A Cross-Sectional Study of Occupational Noise Exposure and Hypertension in Malaysia

Introduction Noise is an occupational hazard that has been linked to negative effects beyond the auditory system, including hypertension. This study investigated the associations between occupational noise exposure and the risk of hypertension. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among state government employees. Data were collected through an online, self-administered questionnaire. Participants were divided into noise-exposed and non-noise-exposed groups based on their self-reported speech communication effort. Hypertension status was also self-reported. Descriptive analysis was performed on sociodemographic, lifestyle, medical history, and occupational characteristics to determine frequency and prevalence. Multiple logistic regression was conducted to compute the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) while adjusting for potential confounders. Results A total of 1005 state government employees were analyzed. The prevalence of hypertension was 18.8% among noise-exposed employees. After adjusting for age, sex, diabetes, dyslipidemia, BMI, and family history of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, noise-exposed employees had a higher risk of hypertension, with an OR of 1.70 (95% CI = 1.09-2.66, p = 0.020), compared to non-exposed employees. Noise-exposed employees who had been exposed to occupational noise hazards for more than 10 years had a higher risk of hypertension (OR 2.04, 95% CI = 1.26-3.29, p = 0.004) compared to those who were unexposed. Conclusion Occupational noise exposure was associated with an increased risk of hypertension. These findings underscore the need to address noise exposure in the workplace and implement appropriate strategies to reduce its potential negative impact on employees' health.